Reporter & Farmer, Webster, South Dakota reporterandfarmer.com March 16, 2020 7

issues teens may be facing – from sexual abuse to con-nection to mental health services and even suicide resources.

“We’ve had incidenc-es where teens have been suicidal – but (educators) don’t know where to turn. Most schools in this area don’t have a counselor,” she said. “The closest men-tal health services we have is Fargo or Yankton. We need to be more prepared (because) once we get to the intervention stage, it’s too late. We need to be more prepared to help get

these kids through what they’re going through.”

Already, Johnson is thinking bigger. It is her hope to get these kits into the hands of educators and students not only in Summit but also in sur-rounding schools.

“We have to take care of our kids’ mental health before we push them to supersede in academics,” she said. “This is not just Summit – it’s all over the United States.”

This is not Johnson’s first national recognition for her work with youth. Last year, she was one of 24 Next Generation After School Leaders. She also serves on the state board for the South Dakota State-wide Family Engagement

Center which focuses on what South Dakota can change for teens.

“The trauma impact-ing our kids is impacting their education,” she said. “This is starting the con-versation with what we can do to change that... From, ‘What is trauma? What does it look like?’ to finally getting some light shed on it. Hopefully this grant will allow me to take it one step closer to help-ing the kids. These are the tough conversations I’m having with educators.”

Ideally, Johnson said she’d like to be part of the national-level conversa-tion surrounding this top-ic.

Along with the $10,000 grant, Johnson said she’ll

also receive training and support from the Running Strong for American In-dian Youth organization to help realize her dream. That will include a trip to Washington, DC April 22-27 where she will attend the “Dreamster Academe” which she said will pre-pare grant recipients to advocate for their idea and how to budget the grant to see it to reality. Becky Hubsch, Johnson’s mentor, will join her on the trip.

“They’re very focused on the success of us. The beauty of this organiza-tion is I’ve seen them be-lieve in their grant win-ners,” Johnson said. “I think we can do something exciting with this grant.”

Johnson is the

daughter of Charlotte Bury and Brock Johnson. Her daughter Rhayn Me-drano, six, has been prom-ised a trip to Disney World for being so understanding while Johnson has been so busy with her own edu-cation and her work, she said.

“She is so resilient.

She’s endured two years of me working so hard and traveling. She is a troop-er,” Johnson said. But it’s for her daughter that she pushes herself so hard. “I want it to be better for her. You wish the best for kids, but having my own daugh-ter makes this more real for me.”

AwardContinued from 1

education assembly that was held in Webster last month. He said there were about 900 students in at-tendance from different schools. The event was or-ganized by the Day County Sheriff ’s Office.

Block revealed that a parent from Florence whose child was in atten-dance told him they were pleased with the assembly

and as a result, their child shared some information with them.

“It’s a growing issue in South Dakota, these in-ternet crimes as well as human trafficking,” Block told the board.

In other news: �The final day of

school, for now, will be May 19. With three snow days so far (Oct. 11, Jan. 17 and Feb. 12), those will be made up on May 15, 18 and 19, Block said. “There is a lot of March and April left, so we will see how it goes,” he said.

�A contract with Chel-sea Larson was approved for high school guidance counselor. Block called her the “top choice” of the five applicants, but said all were strong applicants for the position.

�Christian Mader was approved as a volunteer golf coach.

� Policies were ap-proved for annual budget, general fund balance, au-thorized signatures and taxing and borrowing au-thority limitations. The first reading of the grad-uation decorum and dress

code was also read; stoles will not be allowed but cer-tain cords will be allowed to denote a student’s in-volvement in local clubs and organizations.

�Gail Fischer, Winnie Jacobs and Connie Sawin-sky were approved as elec-tion workers for the April 14 election. They will be compensated $12 per hour for their time.

�According to Princi-pal Craig Case, the results of the prekindergarten registration show there will be 24 students next year in kindergarten. He

said they’ll plan on do-ing two classes. This year, there are 36 kindergarten students. Block said there are 42 seniors set to gradu-ate this year.

�A committee will form to look into the cost per student of the CTE program and decide what to charge Waubay School for participating in that program since the state grant goes off this year.

�The board approved minutes, financial and claims.

�Block reported the school is preparing for the

possibility of caronavirus no differently than they would the flu. He said the biggest thing has been the hanging of PSA type post-ers in the hallways about the importance of hand washing, coughing into a sleeve or crook of arm and using hand sanitizer. He said, “I don’t know that we need to go into any sort of panic. There’s enough of that out there.”

The next school board meeting is April 13 at 7 p.m.

SchoolContinued from 1

Skudesnes holds annual church meeting

Paul McCarlson, Bar-bara Hojnacke, Gloria Helgeson and Ilene Stave attended the fish fry at St. Joseph’s parish hall, Gren-ville.

Attending memorial services for Christie (Ol-son) Sattler, 60 at Fron Lutheran Church were Janet Hanson, Redfield; Alan and Pam Benda, Sisseton; Orville and Sha-ron Helgeson, Langford; others from Brookings, Eden, Grenville, Huron, Pierpont, Roslyn, Water-town, Webster, Iowa and Montana. Inurnment will be this summer at Fron Cemetery. Urn bearers are her 10 grandchildren.

Elroy Olson presided at the Skudesnes Luther-an Church annual meet-ing following worship and potluck. Pennie McIntosh gave devotions and re-ports were given. Officers

are vice president Stan-ley Boe, secretary Debbie Olson, treasurer Bob An-derson; deacons Barbara Anderson, Ilene Stave, Cheryl Rye; trustees Ross McIntosh, Bob Anderson, Marlyn Rye; Bethesda Home representative Boe, delegate Stave. Skudesnes Lutheran Cemetery offi-cers are M. Rye, president; Boe, vice president; Olson, secretary; Cheryl Rye, treasurer; David Sippel, sexton and Layne Aad-land, assistant.

Ilene Stave visited Lillian Nielsen, Almina Helgeson and Loa Mur-schel, Roslyn. Rita Bloom, Webster visited her moth-er Lillian.

Janet Hanson was a weekend guest of her sis-ter-in-law Alice Donat and visited relatives and friends.

Marlyn and Cheryl Rye were afternoon visitors of Myrna Mork.

Ilene Stave, Sandra Brink, Ilse Cameron, Cin-dy Tople, Aberdeen; Al-len Loe, Webster; Jackie

Wagner, Groton and Grace Gleason, Claire City at-tended prayer services for Norman Townsend, 85, Andover.

Marlyn and Cheryl Rye, Stacie and Evaline Johnson visited Orville and Marion West, Groton.

Region 1B Ady Dwight finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and three steals in game one. In semifinals Dwight finished with a game high of 22 points.

Langford was reseeded and played in the SoDak 16. Number 6 Langford Area lost to No. 11 Irene-Wakon-da at Huron.

PierPont(605) 325-3307

by Ilene Stave

NOTICE OF ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS MEETING OF

WATERTOWN CO-OP ELEVATOR ASSOCIATION, CLARK, HENRY

AND WEBSTER BRANCHESNotice is Hereby Given that the Annual Meeting of the stockholders of the Watertown Cooperative Elevator Association will be held at the County Fair Banquet Hall, 14 2nd Street Northeast, Watertown, South Dakota, on Monday, March 23, 2020 at 7 p.m.

Secretary,Paul Leiseth

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Phone: 605-345-3435 Fax: 605-878-3022703 Main St. Webster • Email kara@meyersd.com

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Webster VFW Club 521 West 1st • 345-3994

VFW

Webster City residentsThe City is continuing the

residential property removal program.

If you are interested in having a building removed –

Sign up at City Hall byApril 6

City assistance will be possible with details after sign up.

Please join us for our annual

Cabaret Dinner Show!TUESDAY, MARCH 24, ARMORY

Dinner 5:30 p.m. • Showtime 7 p.m.Menu: Meatballs and turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, two salads, dinner roll and

coffee or punch, cheesecake with toppingsAdvance dinner and show tickets available through March 13

Adults: $14 • K-8th grade: $12Tickets may be purchased at the school or calling (605) 345-4651

Show only tickets (Purchased at the door)Adults $5 • Children (K-8) $3

OrganizatiOns

Red Hat RevelersTwelve members of

Webster Red Hat Revel-ers met at a local cafe. Birthdays remembered were Olive Kading, Nila Stewart and Evelyn Dean. Leone Brown and Marlys Clausen were in charge of arrange-ments. Card bingo was played and prizes given.

Next meeting is April 13 with Nadine Sauer and Sharon Majeske in charge of arrangements..

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